May 29, 2012 (STAMFORD, Conn.) – Thirteen-year -old American driver, Tazio Torregiani, from Stamford CT, is entered to race in the 2012 CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy. Torregiani will be the only driver to represent USA in this prestigious and multicultural competition. "I'm very excited to be racing with some of the best drivers all over the world, it's a great opportunity for me to continue my racing dreams" said Tazio.The Academy Trophy is the supporting series to the CIK-FIA U18 World Championship. It resembles very much a Nations Cup, and is for 50 karters between 13 and 15 years of age, each from a different country. Equal Parolin Fim-KF3 karts will be granted by drawing lots to the Drivers and placed at their disposal free of charge.

The competition will be divided in three rounds; Portugal July 8-10, France August 24-26, and a night race in Bahrain November 8-10. Each adopting the usual format of practice, qualifying and two finals, and integrating the educational program "EduKart" focused on safety, the knowledge of the regulations, the anti-doping rules and the code of conduct on circuits.

Torregiani is set to leave for Friuli-Venezia in Italy on Wednesday May 30 for official testing before the first round in Portugal.Young Tazio has been racing since age 6 under the wing of Mike Doty Racing, and is the 2007 OVRP Novice Cadet Champion. The CT karter has been racing with the best drivers in North America in the WKA Man Cup Nationals, and the SKUSA Supernationals in Las Vegas, where in 2011, he was one of the fastest cadets.

In 2011 Torregiani won 9 times, including 6 WKA divisional races, and finished second overall in the WKA NJ Sprint Series. For 2012 Tazio moved up to the junior class and is already lapping as fast as the best, running at the front in the Raceway Park Karting Series, already with one win on his name.